LAHOR E: A senior officer of the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) is in the dock for `illegally` getting a plot (at ETPB housing scheme in Nankana Sahib) transferred in his name and further selling it.

The process adopted for allotment of plot to ETPB Secretary Junaid Ahmed appears to be swift and has been done in back dates. Those shown as signing or processing the letters/documents deny any such allotment, Dawn learnt on Friday.

The secretary denies the allegation levelled in a complaint submitted to the ETPB chairman by the Officers Welfare Association.

According to documents, a plot measuring 4,500 Sqft in the ETPB`s Punjab Housing Scheme (Nankana Sahib) was allotted on Dec 28, 2012 at the rate of Rs54 per Sqft (Rs31 per Sqft as a cost of the land and Rs22 as development charges). `It is to inform you that the chairman ETPB has been pleased to accord approval for allotment of a plot measuring 4500-Sqft situated at the aforementioned scheme to you subject to various terms and conditions,` reads a letter of Dec 28, 2012 bearing No.P(1)894/98/1157.It is said to be issued by Ms Fauzia Azeez, the then deputy secretary (land). It says the allottee will deposit the sale price of the plot in lump sum or in 50 equal installments. However, final sale deed/transfer of the plot will be made after receipt of full payment/dues, it adds.

Ms Azeez denies issuing any such allotment letter and declares it bogus. `In order to safeguard interest of the ETPB, the trust`s association brought to my notice that Mr Junaid has fraudulently/unlawfully obtained and sold out the ETPB property worth Rs5 million that was comprising one-kanal plot bearing No 9, Block-Z in the hosuing scheme through an allotment letter No 1157 of Dec 12, 2012 under my signatures as deputy secretary (land),` reads a statement issued by Ms Azeez, who is now retired.

She clarifies that the signatures on the aforementioned letter are not hers and explains that she neither processed it nor did Mr Junaid ever receive any approval from the competent authority. `And moreover, I didn`t hold charge of the deputy secretary (land) at that time, as I was holding charge of deputy secretary (property). Mr Asif Raza Sheikh was holding charge of the deputy secretary (land) at that time,` she says.

She says the final letter bearingNo 1248 of Feb 15, 2013 for the transfer of the said plot and addressed to the Deputy Director of the scheme, Mr Sanaullah (the then ETPB secretary land and property), was also against the prevalent procedure in all such matters of allotments. `Therefore, this issue must be investigated and the culprits should be punished under the law,` she demands.

The then DD (Land), Mr Asif Raza Sheikh, who is now deputy administrator of the ETPB`s Lahore region, also expressed ignorance about any such move. `Since the undersigned was the then DD (land), it is certified that such allotment was neither processed in the land branch nor was any such allotment issued from the said branch during my tenure.

Therefore, the said allotment letter is bogus and fraudulent and unlawful as well,` Mr Sheikh issued a statement on Dec 10 last year.

Moreover, in a written complaint sent to the ETPB chairman with copies forwarded to the prime minister, the Supreme Court of Pakistan and other quarters concerned, the association says the plot allotted to the secretary was further sold to Mr Muhammad Aslam, son of Omer Din.

`The procedure adopted for allotment of plot to Mr Junaid Ahmed was quite unusual. In routine procedurethe challan bill of the sale price of the land/plot is issued by the district office to the allottee. On receipt of total sale price from the allottee the District Officer seeks final approval of the competent authority from the Board office for transfer of the plot.

Then the Deputy Secretary of the Board confirms the payment of full sale price from the Accounts Branch and after confirmation of the receipt, seeks approval from the competent authority for transfer of the plot to allottee,` the complaint letter reads.

It says that after receipt of the approval from the competent authority, the officer concerned issues the letter to the DO for transfer of the plot to the allottee. Then the DO issues a letter to the department concerned for transfer of the plot. In the instant case neither challan bill of the sale price was issued by the ETPB district office, nor was information received by the ETPB head ofñce regarding receipt of the sale price.

Similarly, neither the confirmation was made from the Accounts Branch, nor was any final approval accorded in this regard, the letter adds.

It further says the plot was transferred in favour of the secretary without any representation by the DO or any other officer of the ETPB for execution of the sale deed/agree-ment which proved the use of high influence by the allottee/beneficlary. It alleges that Junald Ahmed prepared a bogus letter bearing No1157 dated 28.12.2012 for allotment of the said plot in an unlawful manner, misusing his position in the ETPB in connivance with the then Secretary (Land and Property).

Ms Azeez termed the letter, bearing her signatures, bogus. `I was not the DD (Land) at that time and how can I issue such allotment letter,` she told this reporter.

Mr Asif Raza Sheikh told Dawn that the process of plot allotment was made in haste and backdated.

`Their haste is evident from the statement of Ms Azeez who categorically denied any such move.

Similarly, I also deny processing such letter during my tenure,` the official said.

He said there were some other allegations of corruption against the secretary.

The secretary said the process of allotment of the plot in his favour was transparent and done in accordance with law. `The letter issued by the then DD (land) Ms Azeez is absolutely genuine.

And similarly the rest of process made for the allotment in question was also a transparent one, he insisted.